Out on the town with pets in Tokyo's animal cafes

Julie Makinen / Los Angeles Times

The Hapineko (Happy Cat) cafe in Tokyo's Shibuya district is so well maintained that one may be inclined to think, for a moment, that harboring more than a dozen felines in about 500 square feet is a reasonable proposition.

The Hapineko (Happy Cat) cafe in Tokyo's Shibuya district is so well maintained that one may be inclined to think, for a moment, that harboring more than a dozen felines in about 500 square feet is a reasonable proposition. (Julie Makinen / Los Angeles Times)

At the Hapineko (Happy Cat) cafe in Tokyo's Shibuya district, customers pay about $13 an hour to hang out with felines. The place is kept spotless and odor-free by several attendants.

At the Hapineko (Happy Cat) cafe in Tokyo's Shibuya district, customers pay about $13 an hour to hang out with felines. The place is kept spotless and odor-free by several attendants. (Julie Makinen / Los Angeles Times)